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by default, the maximum path length limit in Windows is 260 characters. A local path is structured in the following order: drive letter, colon, backslash, name components separated by backslashes, and a terminating null character.

Starting with Windows 10 build 14352, you can enable NTFS long paths to allow manifested win32 applications and Windows Store applications to access paths beyond the normal 260 characters limit per node. Enabling this setting will cause the long paths to be accessible within the process.

Starting with Windows build 1607, this policy has moved and is now called Win32 long paths.

This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable Win32 long paths to have paths longer than 260 characters for all users in Windows 10.

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to enable or disable Win32 long paths.

Firstly, I know the information in this tutorial applies to the new Insider preview build, but what would happen if one adds the DWORD to an existing WIN 10 system using option2? Does the OS simply ignore the option or will it cause problems?

The only reason I am asking this is because I have a backup HDD with many files on it that refuse to open because the path names are too long? At the moment I have to use all sorts of tricks to get around the restriction, by moving and renaming the files before they can be opened on a PC running Win 10.

I receive the following error when attempting to copy and paste a 25 GB large folder with many sub-folders and files:"Source Path Too Long. The source file name(s) are larger than is supported by the file system. Try moving to a location which has a shorter path name, or try renaming to shorter name(s) before attempting this operation."I'm given an option to cancel the operation and nothing else. I'm a little bit surprised to see this message as both the source and destination drives are set to NTFS file system, I'm running a Windows 10 Pro build ver 1607 build 14393.447 (which has long file path names turned on by default as said online), as well as I've done 'enable ntfs long path filenames' by accessing win + r > gpedit.msc > computer configuration > administrative templates > system > filesystem > enable win32 long paths (as 'enable ntfs long paths' has been renamed since some build). I've restarted my computer but am still facing the same old error message. I can't afford scanning a path and changing filename's of nearly few hundred files and folders in best case scenario. Would you have any solution for me ?

Windows explorer and a load of other applications which use the explorer interface for selecting files still DO NOT support long file names / paths + folders + files names still have to be < around 260 chars -- can't remember the exact number but it's about that.

I'm sure I've posted on this a few times -

I've a load of Music files which have descriptive path + folder names and then of course track names .

Until File explorer is fixed to handle long file names I think you'll just have to forget the option even exists as 99.999% of stuff out there still works with the fille / path length limitation whatever settings are used.

That sucks hard :/. I'll wait for other opinions but I see future in dark colors lol. Can't imagine that they still didn't work out that issue since Windows XP or Vista. The best part is the 'Pro' attached to a Windows 10 version. How can I treat it like a professional operating system if I'm being stuck on silly errors like this which stop me from doing my job well...

Win32 Long Paths - Enable or Disable in Windows 10

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